With the plastic bags debate taking place in many states, you may be wondering if we should ban plastic pages. Will banning them actually solve the problem?

How are Plastic Bags Used?

The plastic bags that people are talking about in this debate are the plastic grocery bags or t-shirt bags that are given away by supermarkets, markets and shops. These are the lightweight plastic bags, designed for a single use, and are often given away free. Heavy weight plastic bags don't cause as many problems because they are less likely to blow away because of their weight, and they can be used over and over again.

We should Not ban plastic bags because…

Many people wonder why we should NOT ban plastic bags. The main reason for plastic bags is to carry purchases home, so replacing these bags with other options should be easy. However, while there is a move towards reusable bags, this is happening very slowly and they are far less convenient for the consumer. Paper requires more energy in production and transportation than plastic.

The problem with Banning plastic bags

What are the problems with banning plastic bags?

Many believe that plastic bags are very low priority when all the environmental issues of concern are taken into account. Even some green supporters are against the banning of bags. A better solution could be in educating the consumer and changing habits. Other people refer to the fact that the banning of plastic bags simply moves the problem elsewhere. Cities that have banned plastic bags often report an increase in the sale of plastic bin bags. Instead of plastic, paper bags are often used. There are a host of other issues with paper bags, one of which is use of virgin paper pulp.

While it is undeniable that disposable plastic bags are a relatively small problem in the overall scheme of things, better disposal is something we can all do. For more information on biodegradable plastic bags or reducing the waste stream in your business, contact Atlantic Poly.

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